The 20 Best Games of 2010

We've already taken our trip through the lows of 2010. Let's celebrate the highs.

Although sometimes it seems like the past year in videogames will be mostly remembered for the high-profile flops and games that didn't live up to the years of hype, there were also some pretty impressive games released in 2010, too. The year brought with it some long-in-the-making, big-budget extravaganzas that — in an ironic twist — were actually worth all the money poured into them. Gamers also enjoyed some surprising breakout indie hits.

Here are Wired.com's selections of the 20 best games of 2010, as chosen by Chris Kohler, Gus Mastrapa, Daniel Feit, Jason Schreier and John Mix Meyer.

20. Fallout: New Vegas (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC)

With Fallout 3, Bethesda planted its flag in the wasteland sands, reviving the venerable PC franchise for a new generation. Fallout: New Vegas brings the game back to its roots. Obsidian, a studio founded by folks who created the original games, took the West Coast homecoming seriously, delivering plot, characters and places that are harrowing, creepy, quirky and sometimes altogether odd. Fallout: New Vegas may be buggier than a Radroach nest, but wading through the pests is totally worth it. —Gus Mastrapa

19. Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)

Kirby's Epic Yarn didn't do anything especially novel with its gameplay, but I have an inkling that's not why this cooperative platformer kept popping up in our Game of the Year discussions. What left such an impact were the graphics, the beautiful digitally photographed bits of string and fabric that move and shift so naturally, as if the entire game were made from stop-motion animation. It's not just the visual flair, it's the surprising ways the imagery interacts with you that makes the game a joyful experience. —Chris Kohler

18. Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (Xbox 360)

Harmony of Despair is the Castlevania game I never knew I wanted. After years of derivative sequels, Konami mixed up the formula in an unexpected way with Harmony of Despair. By throwing together a collection of the series' past heroes, monsters and environments in multiplayer arenas, a genuinely new game was born. It makes up for its missing narrative by emphasizing replayability, treasure hunting and online co-op. The game has only improved since our initial review thanks to downloadable content, including four additional characters, a pyramid level and 10 remixes of past Castlevania anthems. —Daniel Feit

Photo courtesy Konami

17. Super Meat Boy (Xbox 360, PC)

Super Meat Boy is one of the hardest platformers I've ever played, and one of the best. It features more than 300 fun-size levels, all of which are filled with tough, clever platforming challenges. Super Meat Boy keeps the frustration to a minimum due to its slick, responsive controls — plus the fact that you instantly respawn after you bite it. Your death count will number in the thousands by the end of the game but Super Meat Boy's design takes care to make sure you know what you're up against as soon as you enter each level. —John Mix Meyer

17. Super Meat Boy (Xbox 360, PC)

Super Meat Boy is one of the hardest platformers I've ever played, and one of the best. It features more than 300 fun-size levels, all of which are filled with tough, clever platforming challenges. Super Meat Boy keeps the frustration to a minimum due to its slick, responsive controls — plus the fact that you instantly respawn after you bite it. Your death count will number in the thousands by the end of the game but Super Meat Boy's design takes care to make sure you know what you're up against as soon as you enter each level. —John Mix Meyer

16. Costume Quest (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

Costume Quest marks a fascinating change in course for Double Fine, the development house run by Tim Schafer. Rather than getting bogged down by projects that could take years to finish, Schafer has tasked his team with creating small games on the cheap. Project lead Tasha Harris took the assignment to heart, crafting a lean, lovely role-playing game that captures the magic of Halloween without stooping to base nostalgia. The downloadable game's faithful re-creation of classic role-playing mechanics serves as its own tribute. Some old things never broke and just don't need fixing. —Gus Mastrapa

15. DeathSpank (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC)

Writers may get the first word in Hollywood, but in games their contributions are frequently an afterthought. DeathSpank feels like a game where the writer kept his foot in the door no matter how hard the programmers slammed it. Ron Gilbert's incorrigible humor permeates everything; each item, location and character is imbued with a hefty slathering of quirk. And while Gilbert's contributions are the main reason to play this bite-size, downloadable RPG, don't underestimate the appeal of its Sergio Aragones-style art and Diablo-inspired gameplay. It's just that good — no joke. —Gus Mastrapa

14. 3D Dot Game Heroes (PlayStation 3)

If you think Nintendo keeps making the same games over and over again, you haven't played 3D Dot Game Heroes. This retro-styled PlayStation 3 game clones the first The Legend of Zelda shamelessly, completely and absolutely perfectly. But whereas Miyamoto and company rehash the same themes to explore evolutions in gameplay, developer Silicon Studio is more interested in delivering the most fiendish dungeons it can muster. Heroes' eye-popping look, a melding of high-def visuals and chunky old-school pixels, cements the game's devotion to the past. —Gus Mastrapa

13. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (Xbox 360)

The only thing harder than reinventing a classic is reinventing it twice. Namco Bandai took 2007's critically acclaimed Pac-Man Championship Edition and somehow came up with an even more compelling incarnation of gaming's most iconic hero. In Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, the best part of Pac-Man — eating the ghosts — has been elevated to new heights. As you tear through the maze at high speeds, you pick up more and more pursuers who form a trail behind you. Find a power pellet and you get to eat all your enemies in a gluttonous orgy of revenge. —Daniel Feit

12. Metroid: Other M (Wii)

We can still have a debate over whether the spotty quality of Other M's frequent cinematic interludes justified the critical drubbing the game took in some circles, or whether Nintendo's attempt to infuse cardboard cutout Samus Aran with some degree of human fallibility was well-advised. But there's still nothing else quite like a Metroid game, and the subtle and sometimes ingenious ways that Other M brought that unique style into 3-D after all these years make it one of the standout experiences of 2010. —Chris Kohler

11. Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360, PC)

Some argue that Mass Effect 2 lost the plot when it strayed away from galactic exploration and targeted a single, ultimate mission. But the streamlined role-playing sequel is better for its focus. Losing the aimless wandering and obsessive-compulsive planet-scouring of the first game imbues this sequel with a pace and forward momentum that feels peppier and more thrilling than any role-playing game you've ever played. Those who claim that Mass Effect 2 was a watered-down RPG deserve a renegade Shepard punch in the jaw; this is more about literally playing a role than it ever has been. —Gus Mastrapa

10. Dragon Quest IX (DS)

Role-playing games can be a real chore. As much as I loved growing up with them, increased adult responsibilities severely limit the amount of time I can dedicate to 40-hour epic grind-fests. That's why the DS is perfect for gargantuan games like Dragon Quest IX — I can play it wherever I want, whenever I want, for as long or as short a time as I want. This might be the most complete Japanese RPG on the DS, offering a charming story, goofy characters and enough dungeon-hopping to please even the heartiest of spelunkers. Tons of side quests and robust multiplayer give you plenty of portable goodness to consume. —Jason Schreier

9. WarioWare: D.I.Y. (DS)

The difference between WarioWare: D.I.Y. and other make-your-own-game games is that it is not created with the intent of turning players into DLC content providers. Its intent is to make the very act of creation a playful experience in and of itself. Though it has a rudimentary distribution system for the microgames that result, I don't give a damn if nobody else sees my WarioWare creations. The fun part was making them work, all for me. —Chris Kohler

8. Limbo (Xbox 360)

Why the hell was Limbo so interesting, anyway? Other games have had surreal graphics, clever platforming puzzles or ambiguous plots. Perhaps what compels us to play it and what leaves a lasting impression is the way the game deconstructs the platformer, giving us a deliberately sparse experience that constantly makes us question what's going on — and why we're taking an active part in it. And unlike the twist endings of BioShock or Shadow of the Colossus, Limbo has the balls to leave us guessing at the end. —Chris Kohler

7. Bayonetta (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

Wired.com's Gus Mastrapa may have called Platinum Games' graphic design "a toxic spew of kitsch," and he is probably right, but the fact of the matter is that Bayonetta deserved serious props for rethinking all the mundane elements of action games and attempting to give them a surprising new feel. And besides all of that artsy-fartsy stuff, the gameplay kicked ass. —Chris Kohler

6. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)

Donkey Kong Country did indeed return in 2010, as one of the Wii's best games yet. Some of the waggle controls may be wonky, but it's still a must-play experience, putting the challenge back into a genre that was sorely lacking it. The backgrounds are gorgeous, the music is stellar and the characters are bizarre and hilarious — what other game pits a giant, tie-wearing gorilla against manic-depressive parrots and crabs wielding salad forks? —Jason Schreier

5. Minecraft Alpha (PC)

While an early version of this indie PC game was released in 2009 after a week of development, the alpha and beta versions released this year caused Minecraft to explode in popularity. Giving lie to the notion that there is nothing new under the sun, Minecraft captivated players with its odd combination of deliberately clunky graphics, merciless difficulty and opportunities for creative expression. The danger to triple-A publishers is clear: A free indie game that's addictive and frictionless enough can siphon players' limited time away from your games just like that. —Chris Kohler

Photo: evilhayama/Flickr

4. Heavy Rain (PlayStation 3)

When I think back on Heavy Rain, I remember the characters, the scenes, the lines, the mood, how it affected me emotionally. I remember it like I remember great movies. I enjoy story-based videogames, but this is the only game that has ever had this effect on me. In my memories, all the artifice and occasional clunkiness of the gameplay has been smoothed away; all I remember is feeling like it was really happening. —Chris Kohler

3. Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

Who would’ve thought that one of the best games of the year would be a Western? Rockstar’s epic sandbox killed any misconceptions that it would be Grand Theft Auto in the desert, weaving a solid narrative that would be worth the price of admission even if it didn't take place in such a stunning open world. The story of protagonist John Marston is equal parts fascinating and heart-wrenching, with an ending that would make Shakespeare hold back a tear or two. And besides, you can spend hours upon hours getting drunk, playing blackjack and tying women to train tracks — isn’t that what gaming is all about? —Jason Schreier

2. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

You could take any one of Galaxy 2's hundred-odd individual levels and make a whole game out of it. Bursting at the seams with creativity, the Mario team's second Wii outing was one of the most constantly surprising game experiences of the year. Would that its aesthetics and writing were not so heavily reliant on (and often weaker than) its 2007 predecessor! But on sheer gameplay, Galaxy 2 was an unparalleled success in 2010. —Chris Kohler

2. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

You could take any one of Galaxy 2's hundred-odd individual levels and make a whole game out of it. Bursting at the seams with creativity, the Mario team's second Wii outing was one of the most constantly surprising game experiences of the year. Would that its aesthetics and writing were not so heavily reliant on (and often weaker than) its 2007 predecessor! But on sheer gameplay, Galaxy 2 was an unparalleled success in 2010. —Chris Kohler

1. StarCraft II (PC)

Counting the beta, I've played at least a thousand hours of StarCraft II this year. I've played it in 10-minute bursts, eight-hour tournaments and everything in between. I've played matches against the computer, matches against other players and hundreds of cool custom maps, each with their own unique forms of gameplay.

If 1998's StarCraft revolutionized the real-time strategy genre, StarCraft II perfected it. Everything is polished, clean and user-friendly, whether you're playing against the computer or other humans. Like chess, StarCraft II appeals to an extraordinarily wide range of players, from newbies to professionals. Anyone can play and anyone can get good; even if you don't have perfect instincts for micromanagement, with enough practice you can still learn how to play the game at a competent level.

Some critics have given Blizzard Entertainment flak for splitting StarCraft II's campaign into three separate, fully priced games, but I don't think it's warranted. How many companies continue to patch and refine their games at no extra cost years after a release? How many products ship with a map editor so powerful that players can create entirely new games with it? How many games are so infinitely replayable that they've turned into Korean national sports, fostering superstar celebrities that can earn six-figure incomes just by playing?

Ten years from now, when we think about the games of 2010, StarCraft II will be the one that stands out — probably because we'll still be playing it. — Jason Schreier